One Year Already- WHAT?

(I know this post is overdue- but I have been busy! Enjoy)

Saturday, November 26 Matt and I celebrated our one year anniversary!

We wanted to do something special and decided- what the heck let's celebrate somewhere fancy! We live in TVA (Temple View Apartments) on campus and we thought we deserved a night of comfort.

We decided to stay at the Moana Surfrider hotel in downtown Honolulu! We got there and like all fancy people- valeted our car and got leis! Then we headed out to the pool and tried to catch a little bit of sun. When we got checked into the room we found out they had robes for us- and slippers! We lounged around a bit in those and then got ready and went to eat at Roy's- this Hawaiian fusion restaurant! If you ever have the chance to eat at Roy's DO IT! Our food was delicious. We walked back to our place (unfortunately in the rain) and then got into the wonderful robes and finished the night with Martenellies! (Tacky but a must!) The next morning we ate at the hotel buffet- awesome of course. And then we ended our trip with hour long massages at the spa. Like I said we were fancy people for two days!

While we spent a little too much money- it was nice to get out of Laie and relax. And like we said- We only get one 1 year anniversary!

Enjoy the pictures:

(The pink hotel is the Royal Hawaiian- another nice hotel in Honolulu)

(It was a little cold hanging out at the pool!)

(The Surfrider has these rocking chairs out front so we thought we would people watch for a while)

Thanksgiving in Hawaii

(I made my mom's cranberries- they were a hit- along with my chocolate pie!)

Two years ago for Thanksgiving I was getting on a plane for Dublin with my friend Jenny. I had spent the morning of Thanksgiving in
St. Paul's attending a service for the American community in England. Then we were off to Dublin!

One year ago, I was attending my rehearsal dinner with my family and friends! I was celebrating mine and Matt's wedding day!

Now we are in Hawaii, about to celebrate our one year anniversary. This year we went to Matt's Obachan's (grandmother) home. I thought I would be okay, but it was a little overwhelming. If you know me really well, you know that Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday and I love being with my family. And I am extremely picky about my Thanksgiving food. At Obachan's house there was NO mashed potatoes, there were NO sweet potatoes, and there WAS SUSHI!!!! On top of that there were tons of new family members to meet. All of that combined was a little too much for me to handle. I tried to be a good sport, but at one point I just broke down and started crying in the bathroom. I know, I know how stupid, but being 4,000 miles away from family is hard!

After dinner, things got better. Most of the guests left so it was just people I was used to being around. After dinner, Matt and I went to see Arthur Christmas. It was such a good movie and a good way to end the day.

While this year held many changes, I am so happy I was able to spend my favorite holiday with my favorite person. This guy:

Breaking Dawn

I am not ashamed to say I am very excited to go to the midnight premier of Breaking Dawn. I love Twilight and proud of it. I don't care that Bella is a woman who just cares about her boyfriend, or the fact that Stephenie Meyer's writes poorly... I don't care that the acting is horrible... I just don't care. I love watching a movie that I can just relax in... I love reading books were I can just read and not interrupt the deeper theme of what the author was trying to say... I love stupid love stories and that is what Twilight gives to me. And you know what- I am tired of people trying to justify why they hate the Twilight series by using the fact that Meyer's can't write. This is what I say to them: Have you been published? Have you made millions in writing? No? Then shut-up!

To me these books and movies are a way to just relax and let go... and you know what I need to do exactly that! I am just lucky to have a loving husband who will support me in my insane obsession!

PRAXIS

(These are just some of the books I used to study!)

For about the past 5 or 6 months I have been studying off and on for the Praxis II: Content Knowledge. This test is the 2nd out of 3 I have to take to become certified to teach. I took Praxis I a while ago and it was a piece of cake! Praxis II is a whole other ball game!

Since my content is history, the closest content area is social studies which includes: U.S. History, World History, Political Science, Geography, Economics, and the social sciences (Psych, Anthropology, and Sociology)!

Now, if you don't know better this is a whole lota content to be studying. And that is what I have been doing on top of writing my senior research paper (25-30 pages), completing two days at a middle school for Observation and Practicum and taking another 5 classes... oh yeah and working!

Needless to say I have been very busy! Now, I can handle it and I have been, but I just can't wait to be done in December and just focus on Student Teaching!

So I took the Praxis II last Saturday and will get my results in early December! And it was the hardest test I have taken in my educational career! Holy Crap I would not be surprised if I failed! Luckily, if I do I can take it again in January with my third test the PLT. But everyone send good thoughts that I passed- I could sure use some!

I have been driving Matt crazy since taking it analyzing over every question I can remember and asking him repeatedly if he thinks I passed. I am sure he can't wait till I get my scores!

Hopefully, now I can focus on my paper and the rest of my school work!

A Late Halloween

Last year for Halloween I was Sarah Palin and Matt was a Moose... this year we were nothing and it was pretty lame. At first I was okay with not dressing up because I was pretty excited to just pass out candy and carve our pumpkins- and then I realized Halloween was on a Monday and Matt works Monday nights! It was really depressing- and to add to that we had ZERO trick or treaters. Apparently in Laie, all the kids justgo to one street and everyone else just parks and has a truck or treat, but since we didn't know that Matt and I had 7 bags of candy untouched!!!!

Even though we didn't spend all of Halloween together and did

n't get one tricker or treater we still managed to have some fun. We carved our pumpkins, made gingerbread graveyard, and went to the Haunted Lagoon. Overall, it was a great Halloween- at least we were together!

Update

You might not care, but here are some things that have been happening since July:

1. Still have been running (although I took a week off when I got sick and it has been hard to get back into the groove)

2. Got a Mac Book Pro

3. Started my last semester of school! (well not including student teaching)

4. Found out I love the 7th grade

5. Gave up regular soda (yup, I am coke free)

6. My new love is Diet Dr. Pepper

7. Got my studio basically decorated

8. Found my love for zumba

9. Got a wii

10. Got readdicted to my fall shows

I also have set some real goals to get me back on Operation Portia DeRossi

1. No fast food

2. No soda (just to keep me on track)

3. Exercise 5x a week

4. Only going to the grocery once a week

Hopefully it will all work out! What are your goals?

What I Would Give For Some Fall

As most of you know Fall is my favorite season: I love the leaves changing, the cool weather, the holidays, etc. Unfortunately, Hawaii has no seasons! It is summer year around, the only change we see is the waves get bigger and it rains more! The weather gets a little bit cooler, but nothing like back home. I miss it so much! I am tired of being sweaty all the time and not being able to wear a hoodie or shoot even a light jacket! Matt and I have another year and a half here and I can't wait to get off the island. I know we are lucky to be in such a beautiful place, but I just want my fall- is that too much to ask?

One thing I am excited about is Halloween! Matt and I are not dressing up this year- but we are hoping for some trick or treaters! TVA (the complex we live in) is full of children- cause it's a Mormon community :) so one thing to be excited about is handing out candy to the little trick or treaters! We are going to stay in and make some treats and watch some Halloween classics like Hocus Pocus!

Anyway, I know I have been out of touch lately, but I will try to be better!